Egg-case



No. 612,395. Patented Oct. I8, |898. A. J. BRANHAM.

EGG CASE.

{Application led July 11, 1898.) (LND Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(www4/Lamas.' JZUZ v. g m.,

WM www..

Patented oct. la, 1398. A. J. BRANHAM. n

EGG CASE.

(Application filed July 11, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2A (No Model.)

btowm J.

'mi cams Pfrms co.. Puoummo., wAsruNoToN. n c4 NITED STATES i PATENTOFFICE.

ALVIN J. BRANHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

EGG-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,395, dated October18, 1898. Application filed `J'uly 11, 1898. Serial No. 685,615.' `(Il'omodel.)

To all whom t may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN J. BRANHAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at S prin g* field, in the county of Greene and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEgg-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to improvements in egg-cases of that classinwhich an outer containing box or case is employed to receive one ormore sliding drawers designed to hold the eggs in such manner as toprevent breakage thereof during transportation; and it consists in thefeatures of construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in theappended claim.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofdrawer for eggcases of this class in which provision is made forretaining the eggs in position in the most effective manner and to whichaccess may be readily and conveniently had for inserting and removingeggs.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which--Figure lis a perspective view of an egg-case constructed in accordancewith myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical transverse section ofsaine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the drawers. Fig. 4 is a sideview of same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drawer.Fig. (5 is a broken detail perspective view of the tray. Fig. 7 is alsoa detail view showing the manner in which the eggs are retained inposition by the elastic bands, and Fig. 8 is a similar view showingamodification in which an auxiliary longitudinal band is employed inconnection with the transverse bands to hold the eggs against verticaldisplacement. Fig. 9 is a broken detail perspective view of the lid,showing the manner of securing the elastic bands thereto.'

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like letters ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Arepresents an inclosing box or case provided on the interior thereofwith spaced ledges or cleats b, serving as supports for a series ofsliding drawers C.

a hinged door D and a handhold or ring e,

whereby it may be conveniently lifted and transported. Each drawer Ocomprises inits construction a tray F, having a centrally-arrangedbottom portion or shelf g, secured between cleats g or in any othersuitable manner and provided with a series of concaved recesses oropenings 7L, forming seats for the eggs. Connected at its rear end tothis drawer by hinges t' is a lid-frame I, provided at its front endwith alatch-pin j, adapted to engage a spring-keeper 7c on the tray tohold the lidframe closed. Extending across the opening of the lid-frameis a meshing composedof aseries of longitudinally-extending elasticbands Z and similar transversely-extendin g bands m, which arepreferably secured to the said trayframe in the following manner: Theside and end bars of said lid-frame are notched or cut out to form aseries of retaining lugs or projections n, which are preferablydovetailed or undercut to receive the elastic bands and hold the sameagainst vertical displacement. The elastic meshing may consist of asingle band stretched back and forth longitudinally and transversely ofthe frame in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 7 and engaged with the saidretaining lugs or projections which hold them under tension; or it mayconsist of a series of independent endless bands engaged with tworetaining-lugs on opposite sides of the frame. The retaininglugs on thefront and back bars of the lidframe are arranged on a plane below thoseon the side bars of said frame, or made somewhat deeper, in order thatthe longitudinal elastic bands Z, held thereby, will extend below thetransverse bands m, and so that said longitudinal bands will haveposition a short distance above the egg-receiving recesses or openings hin the bottom portion or shelf of the tray F and bear against oppositesides of the eggs, in the manner shown in Fig. 7, to prevent the samefrom moving in a direction transversely of the tray. The transversebands m, as before stated, are arranged above the plane of thelongitudinal bands and bear upon the upper portion orside of the egg andretain the same against vertical displacement.

IOO

The particular construction and arrangement of these bands areimportant, as the eggs are held from movement in two directions andprevented from rolling out of the recesses or openings h, and at thesame time are yieldingly supported, so that they maymove freely to alimited extent to compensate for vibration of the tray in transit.

If desired, an auxiliary longitudinal elastic band o, extendingimmediately above the eggreceivingrecesses or openings and parallel withthe longitudinal bands Z, may be employed to assist the transverse bandsin retaining the eggs against vertical displacement. This constructionis shown in Fig. 8, and While not deemed essential in shipping hen-eggsor other small eggs may be advantageously employed in shipping duck andother heavier and larger eggs.

The elastic meshing may be readily and conveniently replaced by simplydisengaging the bands from the retaining-lugs and substituting otherstherefor and access to the tray obtained for inserting and removing theeggs by simply lifting the hinged lid I.

The trays may be secured to the casing A in any desired manner toobviate any liability of their accidentally sliding outwardly when thehinged doorD is opened. In the present instance I have shown each drawerprovided with a spring-catch, p, adapted to engage a keeper (not shown)on the interior of the case to accomplish this purpose.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of my improved egg-holding traywill be readily understood.

This construction of tray, while designed primarily for shipping eggslong distances on cars, is adapted especially for use by hucksters andcommission men on account of the ease and convenience with which accessmay be had to the trays for inspection and removal of the eggs.

It will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion,and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of theinvention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new anduseful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-A An egg-holdingdrawer comprising in its construction a fixed tray having a bottomprovided with seats for the eggs, a lid-frame hinged thereto andprovided around the upper edge thereof with a series, of retaining lugsor projections, and a meshing consisting of a series of longitudinallyand transversely extendingr elastic bands stretched across the openingof said frame and secured to said lugs, thesaid longitudinal elasticbands being adapted to bear against opposite sides of the eggs and thetransverse bands upon the upper portions or sides thereof, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN J. BRANHAM.

Vitnesses:

GEO. J.' OATMAN, JOE P. WILSON.

